2012 Panel of Judges
Fiber Art, Digital Art & Photography - Judi Clausen
Raised and educated in Rockford, Illinois, Judi Clausen received her BFA in photography from Rockford College. During her college coursework she became interested in textile arts. In the early 2000’s, she began working and teaching classes at a local quilt shop which fueled her interest and collection of material. Making her quilts unique and personal, she dyes her own fabric and wool. Her quilts include beadwork, embroidery and applique’ techniques.
Judi has made over 200 quilts which are displayed across the country in private collections. She participates in member shows for quilt organizations, PAQA (Professional Artist Quilters, Chicago, IL) and “Rather Bees” a quilt bee near her home in Bartlett, Illinois. Quilt exhibitions include: A Tribute to Esme, A Journey of Grief and Healing, YWCA Women’s Art Gallery, Cincinnati 2010, Keiko + Friends Art Quilts International Show, Kavanagh Gallery, 2005, Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Invitational (various pieces) 2008-11.
Earlier in her career, Judi exhibited her photographic work in the Annual Rockford & Vicinity Juried Show, the Burpee Art Gallery, Expressions 1979 at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ohio. She worked in her studio concentrating on black and white and sepia prints for over 10 years. Currently, she incorporates photo images into her quilt making, combining two areas of expertise.
Painting, Watercolor, Pastel, Drawing & Printmaking - Sy Ellens
Michigan born Sy Ellens graduated from Kendall School of Design and Western Michigan University. He taught art at Kalamazoo Christian High School and at a Government Teachers College in Nigeria. Since 1980, Sy has been a freelance artist specializing in architectural renderings and concentrating on watermedia painting.
He is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and numerous professional art societies, winning over 160 awards, including the High Winds Medal from the American Watercolor Society. His work has been published in magazines such as The Artist Magazine, Watercolor Magazine and Encore Magazine and his art has been included in several books and can be found in many private and corporate collections in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Known for his colorful paintings executed from an aerial perspective, he also painted a 2200 square-foot mural in the children's room and a 62,500 square-foot mural for the floor of the new Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Sculpture, Ceramics, Glass, Mixed media - Dora Natella
Dora Natella was born in Venezuela to an Italian family and from the age of five was raised and educated in Italy. She studied figurative sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples. In 1980 Dora moved to the United States earning an MFA in sculpture in 1986 at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In 1993 she served as the Sculpture Area Coordinator at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and in the fall of 1996 she joined the Fine Arts Faculty at the University of Oregon. In 1997 Dora was awarded a teaching/research Fulbright Award. Her proposal, aimed to foster cultural ties between Venezuela, her country of origin, and the U.S. enabled her to establish firm ground as a teacher and artist.
During the past thirty years her scholarship of teaching and studio practice have dovetailed very creatively. Since arriving at IU South Bend in 2004 she has has been dedicated to her art, her students and her University. In addition to her work in program and curriculum development at IU South Bend, Dora also been successful at exhibiting locally, nationally, and internationally. Her artwork is included in various public and private collections in the U.S. and abroad.